Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Young artist wins kudos at State Fair, area galleries

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas As our mothers told us, everyone has his or her own unique talent. For artist Chris Downey his talent has evolved from instinct to therapy, and it is now hoped to be a profitable business enterprise.

Downey's family provider, Christie Searles, explains that his world is pictures. "Chris has autism on the severe end of the spectrum, and he is deaf," she said. "So his world is all about pictures."

Since March, Downey has lived with Searles at her home in Los Lunas. When visitors arrive in the morning, the energetic Searles welcomes them in. "Chris is making his bed. Come on back and I'll introduce you," she says with a smile.

Downey has just begun the bed-making process and is putting on a new fitted sheet. Using sign language, Searles introduces Downey to his guest.

He acknowledges the other person with a brief smile and then turns back to his chore. "Chris is very task-oriented," Searles says. "The bed has to be made."

In the kitchen, Searles offers cookies she and Downey made that morning. "You have to keep an eye on him because he'll eat all of them," she said, laughing. "He used to drink a whole pot of coffee. Now I just set it up for two cups and he can make his own."

As they sit, enjoying oatmeal and raison cookies, Searles talks enthusiastically about her own personal "artist in residence." She began working with Downey in 2002 as his job coach through the state's Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

"He worked for four years at a job, but the art takes him to a whole different level," said Searles, who described Downey's family as being artistically inclined. "One of the big challenges we had with DVR is how do you get self-employed artists into the work program?"

Unable to find a niche within a program right now, Searles and Downey have struck out on their own. Downey's work has been featured in several local craft shows, as well as the State and Valencia County fairs.

"We are still working with DVR, but it is kind of slow," Searles said. In addition to working with Downey, Searles works with other people with disabilities and is a full-time student pursuing a degree in social work. She is also a member of the New Mexico Family Provider Association.

Downey has finished making his bed, comes into the kitchen and sits down at the table. He eyes the plate of cookies hopefully. "At lunch. You can have one at lunch," Searles firmly tells him.

Searles has placed a magazine rack that has been utilized as storage for Downey's paint tubes on the table while she explains the evolution of his work. "These are some of his paintings and his wood burning," she said. "We've started doing ceramics, which is lots of fun."

Those colorful 'splots' are artistically yet economically framed and then titled to complete the process and make them ready for display or sale.

Downey stands up and moves the paints back to the kitchen counter, where they belong. "They don't go on the table," Searles says with a laugh.

One recent ceramic endeavor Downey has been working on is masks. "And since we've had so much luck with them breaking, we're experimenting with a 'Phantom of the Opera' look," Searles said.

The androgynous masks, which are finished with glazes ranging from blue to black to bronze are collectively called Area 51, Searles said.

Three of his other ceramic pieces placed in this year's Valencia County Fair. A tape dispenser shaped like a clown took first place, Downey got second place for a decanter in the shape of a Scotsman sitting on a barrel of whiskey and a skull won for its unique texture.

At this fall's State Fair, a Zuni fetish bear with a military motif took first place, while a wood-burned wooden box for business cards took second place.

In addition to his ribbons, Downey has several pieces displayed in Albuquerque and is working his way into local businesses. A piece titled "Siamese Twins" is displayed at the Cooper Arts Center in Albuquerque. The work is a pair of ceramic Siamese cats.

Searles said they are hoping to put the Zuni bear on display at Baca's Insurance Village Agency in Los Lunas. They are also talking to New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union in Los Lunas about displaying another piece.

When Downey began working with ceramics, the greenware was purchased from a shop in Albuquerque. Now, the team will start pouring his molds to work on his tactile sensory issues.

"He likes frogs and cats, as you can see," Searles says in reference to the large ceramic cat on the mailbox. "We've done a lot of other pieces. There's the Santa that needs a lot of help."

She pulls a ceramic Santa Claus out of a box — white ceramic shows through the blue mottled glaze. "We are learning as we go. Some things work, some don't," Searles said.

There is a bustle of activity when Downey's caseworker, Stacy Scott, arrives for a visit. She comes in wearing a black shirt with a white silk screen of Holly Golightly and black cowboy boots.

In tow are almost a dozen boxes full of Downey's work. She is fresh back from a show at the Monte Vista Christian Church in Albuquerque. "The bear sold," she announced happily. "And they've invited him back next year."

Searles laughs. "I guess Insurance Village doesn't get the bear," she said with a huge smile.

As the two pull out different pieces, they chat about Downey's future possibilities. Scott is trying to get his work featured in some of the "stroll" events in Nob Hill. They talk about getting his work into the esteemed Weems Art Show.

"That's a prayer right now," Searles said.

Scott, who works with Carino Case Management Inc. of Albuquerque, has been Downey's case manager for seven years. "I've seen him blossom since he's moved in with Christie," she said. "Ever since she was his job coach, we knew she was the one for him."

Not only has Searles encouraged Downey in his artistic endeavors, but also in his efforts to have an independent life. "One of the things we are working on is portion control," she said. "Like I said, he will eat all the cookies. We are trying to help him learn some restraint. Since he's been here, he's actually lost about 50 pounds."

Scott agrees that Downey is looking good.

The next step for Downey is to secure some studio space of his own. Searles said they are working on a plan to utilize some space in a large hangar/warehouse in Isleta.

Also using the space is another disabled artist who does large-scale, flat, wooden silhouettes and is a DJ. "There is lots of space for separate kiln room plus plenty of workspace," Searles said.

Downey has a large kiln now. During the morning, Christie got a call from a friend to tell her he had located a small kiln for $100. "Get it," she says enthusiastically.

Searles is hoping to videotape Downey as he works and transfer it to a laptop so people can see his process at the shows he attends. "Our goal through DVR is to attend at least two events each year," she said. "We had four things in November, but one fell through, which was kind of a good thing in the end. We are so busy."

As Searles sits at the kitchen table, discussing lunch possibilities with Downey, she is all smiles and laughs. "How about we just go out for lunch," she asks. That's good with Downey.

"He is so great. We have so much fun. His work is incredible. If you pick it up and looked at it closely, you would see the flaws. But if you looked closely at Michelangelo's works, you'd see flaws too," she says pointing at the ceiling of the kitchen as if it were the Sistine Chapel.

Outside on the front porch, Searles says goodbye to their guest. Downey emerges with his jacket on, clearly ready to go to lunch. "Not yet. I'm still in my flip-flops," Searles laughs, gesturing to her feet.

Downey goes back inside to wait for his friend and the promise of a fun lunch out.

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